RAY Oliveira is vowing to beat Ricky Hatton at his own game - and destroy him with body shots.

The 36-year-old American confirmed at the weekend that he will take a lucrative clash with light-welterweight ace Hatton at London's ExCel Arena on December 11, a fight seen as a tune-up for Hatton ahead of a possible IBF title showdown in March or April.

But Oliveira says he is not coming to Britain to make up the numbers, even though he contemplated retirement from the ring a few months ago.

And after 14 years as a pro, in which time he has mixed at the top level, "Sucra" Ray claims he still has enough in the tank to beat Hatton.

But he admits his first battle is going to be with the scales as he has operated at welterweight for the last two years, half a stone above the ten-stone light-welter limit.

"It's going to be a tough fight, both the opponent and making the weight, but I am taking the fight," Oliveira confirmed at the weekend, three days after the fight was announced by Hatton's promoter Frank Warren.

"We are both going to be throwing a lot of body punches and I am going to beat him at his own game. But I will do it my way.

"I am going to fight him the way I fought when I was 22.

"I can't brawl with him , he's too tough, plus he is fighting at his weight. I am going to box him."

Oliveira would appear to be perfect for a tune-up fight.

He is vastly experienced, has plenty of top names on his record, comes off a three-fight winning streak, and has never been stopped in a 58-fight career.

In his last fight, a month ago, he lifted the obscure International Boxing Union title by beating Hicklet Lau in his home state of Massachusetts.

But his best year was 2000, when he beat Vince Phillips and current World Boxing Association champ Vivian Harris over 12 rounds, and took Ben Tackie 12 hard rounds before losing on points.

Hatton himself beat Phillips and Tackie over 12 rounds last year, his best two results, and was due to face Harris this year until the Guyanan pulled out after his demands for a bigger purse were not met.

Oliveira has other notable results on his record.

He took world-class Vernon Forrest 12 rounds in 1997 after taking the fight at five days' notice, and he drew with durable and highly-respected Omar Weis in 2001.

His full record reads 47 wins, nine losses and two draws, with 22 of his wins coming inside the distance.